Improvement in children s table-chairs



R. L. BENT. Childs Table-Chair.

No. 218,108. Patented Aug. 5,1879.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RODERIG L. BENT, OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS.

' IMPROVEMENT IN CHILDRENS TABLE-CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218, I08, dated August5, 1879; application filed April 14, me.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be itknown that I, RoDERIc L. BENT, of Gardner, Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Childrens Table-Chairs; and that the same isfully described in the following specification and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

My improvement relates to that class of chairs which are provided with atemporary table or shelf, serving to prevent the child from falling fromthe chair, and also to support toys or other articles.

My invention consists in a chair provided with a removable table orshelf having alocking-bar secured to its under side, and adapted toengage with the arm and spindles for its support.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a chair provided withmy improved table. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan of the under side of thetable, with locking-bar; and Fig. 3, a detail view, showing thesupporting means.

A is the body, and B the rim or outer edge, of the shelf, cut away ornotched, as at G G, to receive the front spindles, D D, of the chair.Thr se spindles are shouldered, as at cl, so as to support the shelf atthe proper height, and, in connection with the arm E, beneath which therim bears, to sustain it in a substantially horizontal position. (SeeFig. 3.)

The rim is steam-bent and grooved along its inner edge, to receive thebody A of the table,

and the parts will usually be united, also, by glue.

The locking-bar F (best shown inFig. 2) is a spring-lever, preferably ofwood, secured to the under side of the table by a pin or screw, G, onwhich itmay move through a short arc. At the point H, I form a recess inthe rim B, into which the bar F springs when turned to the positionshown in broken lines in Fig. 2. When one end of the bar is in therecess H its opposite end is held snugly against the spindle D, which isthus clasped between the bar and the curved end 0 of the rim. The notchC at the same time engaging with the spindle D, the table will be firmlyheld to the'chair; and as the rim B extends backward beneath the arm ofthe chair and is supported by the shoulders d, a horizontal positionwill be maintained.

When it is desired to disconnect the parts, the end of the bar F isdepressed so as to clear the recess H, then swung upon the pivot Gsufficiently to release the spindle D, when the table may be removed.

The locking-bar thus serves to secure the table in position, so that itmay be readily detached by an attendant; but itis so applied and locatedthat the child cannot disengage it.

I sometimes apply the same devices in a modified form, by forming ashort slot in the bar F, that it may slide longitudinally upon the pin Gand in the recess H, and act as a bolt to unite the chair and shelf.This construction is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The screw-headbeneath the bar keeps it up in position.

By my invention 1 simplify the construction and mode of attachment. ofplay-tables, and greatly increase their durability and usefulness.

I claim as of my invention 1. A removable table or shelf, adapted toengage with and be supported by the arm E and shouldered spindles D D ofa chair, and having the locking-bar F secured to the under side of suchshelf, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a childs chair with shelf, the combination of the arm E, theshouldered spindles D D, the notched and recessed rim B, the pin G, andthe locking-bar F, substantially as set

